Reports has it that there is increased fear that Puigdemont would announce that the region is indeed going ahead to secede.

However, ahead of a planned speech to the Catalan parliament in which Puigdemont is expected to announce the secession from Spain, police have been dispatched to the parliament, and have sealed off the grounds, making it inaccessible to the public.

Despite criticisms from European government and fierce opposition from the Spanish central government, Puigdemont has reportedly stated that he would go ahead and declare independence.

In a tweet, a non-party grassroots movement, the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), had encouraged supporters to ‘defend’ the vote for independence by trooping out to the parliament district.

The Spanish central government has insisted that the Catalonia referendum was illegal; and if needed, thousands of Spanish national police are prepared to step in and intervene.

Various European governments have also weighed in on the matter, with the French foreign minister, Nathalie Loiseau, stating that her country would not recognize any declaration of independence by Catalonia.

In a phone call with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, reportedly affirmed her backing for Spain’s unity.

The European Union has also made it clear that Catalonia would cease to be part of the union if it splits from Spain.